This past Sunday in Stockton-on-Tees, UK, there was a Prime Championship. However, this is one of the most unique events in the world – it is not only a tournament, but it is day two of “The Weekender”, a tradition going back to first edition, in which during Store Championship and Regional/Prime seasons, the Manchester event will be held on the Saturday, and the Stockton event on the Sunday. People are heavily encouraged to go to both, despite the ~2 hour distance between them (for Americans: this is quite a bit by UK standards), staying up partying on Saturday night before regretting it[1] on the Sunday morning.
Now, between having just had a standard competitive tournament the day before, and usually operating on very little sleep, Stockton’s tournament has developed a reputation among Weekender participants as the ‘jank’ tournament. It is by no means mandatory, but a healthy number of participants will play nonsense in the name of fun. Previously these nonsense decks were somewhat free-form, but the last few have had some nominal structure to them. Previous instances were a House with the Red Door Exodia contest, in which Dave Bamford managed to get all the way to the final by repeatedly getting that most OP HRD location in all the land, Black Betha (bam-a-lam); and “take an intro deck and add a 61st card”, which is pretty self-explanatory and saw 2 intro decks make the cut. This time we went with Prince that was Promised, Exodia style.
But what is “Exodia” in this context? A term coined by some gobshite back in first edition, it refers to the practice of having exactly six[2] options for your agenda, randomising the selection for each game, and playing whatever you get. So in the case of HRD, we had exactly 6 unique non-limited locations of 3 or lower, and randomised the selection each game. For Prince that was Promised, we had exactly 6 unique in-faction characters in our deck, and randomised who the Prince was before each game.
The exact rules were as follows:
- Your agenda is The Prince That Was Promised
- Your faction is decided a couple of weeks prior to the tournament by random draw[3].
- You must run exactly 6 unique characters from your faction, each 1x, and no others.
- You’re allowed neutral uniques but not as one of your potential Princes.
- Before each round, shuffle up your 6 uniques to find out who you’re declaring as your Prince in that game.
- Encouraged but not mandated is one mediocre/comedy option, or some other theme to the Princes.
Now, we always do this nonsense, but in the name of community spirit I thought it was important to document our travails. After all, how else are we meant to determine the best random Prince that was Promised you can get? So with that out of the way, here are the 11 participants, what they played, and how the day turned out for them, in order from lowest-to-highest JP position.
Tony Makos
Faction: Greyjoy
Princes: [N/A]
Deck: [N/A]
Makos was unable to attend the Weekender after being drawn, and is mainly noted here for being the explanation for why we had zero GJ Prince decks in the field.
Final Position: [N/A]
Jack Machin
Faction: Lannister
Princes:
Chiswyck
Grand Maester Pycelle
Gunthor Son of Gurn
Joffrey Baratheon (Core)
Myrcella Baratheon (SoD)
Ser Meryn Trant
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x Duel (TFoA)
2x Heads on Spikes (Core)
1x Valar Dohaeris (TAK)
1x Valar Morghulis (TIMC)
1x Winter Festival (CtA)
1x You Win Or You Die (SAT)
Characters (32):
3x Anguy the Archer (FotS)
3x Burned Men (Core)
1x Chiswyck (PoS)
3x Crow Killers (WotW)
3x Frey Lordling (TFoA)
1x Ghost of High Heart (CoS)
1x Grand Maester Pycelle (Core)
1x Gunthor Son of Gurn (KotI)
2x House Maester (WotN)
1x Joffrey Baratheon (Core)
3x Lannisport Merchant (Core)
1x Lem Lemoncloak (Km)
1x Myrcella Baratheon (SoD)
1x Old Bill Bone (IDP)
2x Oldtown Scholar (SoD)
1x Ser Meryn Trant (DotE)
1x Syrio Forel (TRtW)
3x The High Sparrow (TFM)
Attachments (9):
3x Noble Lineage (Core)
3x Ser Pounce (TFM)
3x Widow’s Wail (Core)
Locations (18):
2x Casterly Rock (Core)
2x Flea Bottom (OR)
3x Ocean Road (LoCR)
1x Small Council Chamber (TS)
3x The Kingsroad (Core)
3x The Red Keep (DotE)
3x The Roseroad (Core)
1x The Starry Sept (KotI)
Events (2):
2x Nightmares (CoW)
Machin attended the Saturday of the Weekender, but came down with a tragic case of the ‘roni virus on Saturday night and was not in a fit state to attend the Sunday event. Last witnessed vomiting in his underpants[4][5], his whereabouts are unknown. Similarly to Makos his inclusion here is to note why no Lannister Prince decks featured in the field. As we can see from the list he would have played though, this is probably where he would’ve featured in the order even had he attended.
Final Position: [N/A]
Ben Cotton
Faction: Targaryen #2[6]
Princes:
Captain Groleo
Daenerys Targaryen (DotE)
Hizdahr zo Loraq
Khal Drogo (Core)
Mirri Maz Duur
Pyat Pree
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x At the Gates (AtG)
1x Late Summer Feast (AMAF)
1x Return to the Fields (KotI)
1x Siege Preparations (FotS)
1x The Prince Who Came Too Late (DotE)
1x Valar Dohaeris (TAK)
1x You Win Or You Die (SAT)
Characters (31):
3x Black Market Merchant (CoS)
3x Braided Warrior (Core)
1x Captain Groleo (DotE)
1x Daenerys Targaryen (DotE)
2x Dothraki Handmaiden (DotE)
3x Freedmen (TBWB)
2x Handmaiden (Core)
1x Hizdahr zo Loraq (TMoW)
3x Horselord (DotE)
1x Khal Drogo (Core)
3x Merchant Prince (TtB)
1x Mirri Maz Duur (CoW)
1x Pyat Pree (TIMC)
3x Stormcrows (JtO)
3x Targaryen Loyalist (Core)
Attachments (16):
1x Beggar King (CtA)
2x Bodyguard (Core)
2x Breaker of Chains (TRW)
1x Crown of Gold (TRtW)
2x Dragon Skull (BtRK)
1x Khaleesi (DotE)
1x Noble Lineage (Core)
2x Queensguard (SoKL)
2x Syrio’s Training (Core)
2x Tokar (HoT)
Locations (11):
2x Dragon Gate (AtG)
1x Gates of the Moon (JtO)
3x Illyrio’s Estate (Core)
2x Meereenese Market (MoD)
3x Pentos (DotE)
Events (3):
3x Gifts for the Widow (DitD)
Cotton opted for the strategy of a relatively straightforward deck, probably a pretty reasonable Fealty or Qohor list in fact, but hamstrung it by the agenda choice meaning he could only play Dany and his restricted at 1x, and included Pyat Pree. Something something “bold strategy” something something.
Cotton found the deck better in theory than in practice. It had a “theoretically strong voltron module to plug onto any of the Princes”, but, he noted, this module “was derailed by the opponents rudely playing their own cards”. As the below results demonstrate, Daenerys was probably the best Prince target. Cotton did at least get to enjoy having a different Prince every game, with only Khal Drogo (who he?) not getting a chance to shine.
Round One – Pyat Pree – Loss
Round Two – Daenerys – Win
Round Three – Hizdahr – Loss (to another Exodia)
Round Four – Mirri – Loss (to another Exodia)
Round Five – Groleo – Loss
Final Position: 27th (1-4)
Sam Wilson
Faction: Martell
Princes:
Areo Hotah (SoD)
Arianne Martell (Core)
Darkstar (SoD)
Nymeria Sand (SoD)
Ser Archibald Yronwood
The Red Viper (OR)
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x A City Besieged (CoS)
1x At the Gates (AtG)
1x City of Spiders (BtRK)
1x Duel (TFoA)
1x Manning the City Walls (PoS)
1x The First Snow of Winter (NMG)
1x Valar Morghulis (TIMC)
Characters (31):
1x Anguy the Archer (FotS)
1x Areo Hotah (SoD)
1x Arianne Martell (Core)
2x Bastard Daughter (TtB)
1x Begging Brother (OR)
1x Darkstar (SoD)
3x Desert Scavenger (Core)
2x Dornish Spy (TBWB)
1x Ghost of High Heart (CoS)
1x Greenblood Trader (Core)
3x Host of the Boneway (SAT)
2x House Manwoody Guard (MoD)
1x Lem Lemoncloak (Km)
1x Lysa Arryn (DotE)
1x Nymeria Sand (SoD)
1x Nymeria’s Guard (SoD)
3x Palace Spearman (Core)
1x Ser Archibald Yronwood (SoKL)
3x Shadow City Bastard (SoD)
1x The Red Viper (OR)
Attachments (3):
1x Hotah’s Axe (SoD)
2x Imprisoned (TS)
Locations (19):
2x Blood Orange Grove (Core)
3x Dorne (SoD)
3x Dornish Fiefdom (TFoA)
3x Flea Bottom (OR)
1x Gates of the Moon (JtO)
1x Ghaston Grey (Core)
2x Starfall (SoD)
3x The Roseroad (Core)
1x The Water Gardens (TAK)
Events (8):
2x Doran’s Game (Core)
3x He Calls It Thinking (IDP)
2x His Viper Eyes (WotN)
1x The Prince’s Plan (AMAF)
Wilson, not a man who likes Martell or who usually deckbuilds, basically put together a deck of the cards he hates playing against. The result is a deck that plays Duel and has a 6g Prince; wants to win military and attrition the board; has Doran’s Game; and runs a “win-by-power” agenda. That tracks.
When asked to provide a comment on his deck and performance, Wilson responded “of course”.
Round One – Archibald – Loss
Round Two – Darkstar – Loss
Round Three – Darkstar – Loss (to another Exodia)
Round Four – Archibald – Win
Round Five – Areo – Win
Final Position: 23rd (2-3)
George Ankers
Faction: Stark
Princes:
Alysane Mormont
Dacey Mormont
Eddard Stark (PoS)
King Robb’s Host
Maege Mormont
Old Nan
Deck:
Plots (7):
2x Forced March (SoD)
1x The Long Winter (WotN)
1x The Winds of Winter (Core)
1x Wardens of the North (NMG)
1x Winter Festival (CtA)
1x Winter Reserves (MoD)
Characters (32):
1x Alysane Mormont (AtG)
2x Bear Island Loyalist (WotN)
3x Bear Island Scout (IDP)
1x Dacey Mormont (TRW)
3x Dreadfort Maester (TAK)
1x Eddard Stark (PoS)
3x House Manderly Knight (TC)
1x King Robb’s Host (WotN)
3x Last Hearth Scouts (LoCR)
1x Maege Mormont (JtO)
1x Old Nan (WotN)
3x She-Bear (FotS)
3x Umber Loyalist (SoKL)
1x White Harbor Watchman (BtRK)
2x Wildling Scout (NMG)
3x Winterfell Steward (Core)
Attachments (5):
1x Bodyguard (Core)
1x Ice (Core)
1x Malleon’s Tome (PoS)
1x Nymeria (WotN)
1x Shaggydog (MoD)
Locations (14):
3x Heart Tree Grove (Core)
2x Karhold (KotI)
2x Northern Armory (TSC)
3x Northern Keep (TBWB)
2x Old Gate (AtG)
2x Winterfell (WotN)
Events (9):
2x “Off To Gulltown” (SoD)
1x “On a Misty Morn” (DitD)
3x I Am No One (TFM)
3x Winter Is Coming (Core)
Ankers went for a strategy of picking Princes that were either going to be put to use for reasons beyond renown; were funny; or both. After all, “Stark’s best characters are non-unique anyway”, Ankers laughed. “Might as well lean into it.” The result is a Winter deck, but with some plots lacking the Winter trait to give Old Nan something to do. We also have War plots for King Robb’s Host, and otherwise, a military-heavy, attritional build. The result of building to military? “ I never once triggered my agenda to stand my Prince, but it sure as hell made Forced March a good plot!”
Round One – King Robb’s Host – Loss
Round Two – King Robb’s Host – Loss
Round Three – Dacey – Win
Round Four – Maege – Win
Round Five – Alysane – Loss
Final Position: 21st (2-3)
Matt Slade
Faction: Targaryen #3[7]
Princes:
Daenerys Targaryen (TFM)
Irri
Khal Drogo (Core)
Ser Barristan Selmy (LoCR)
Strong Belwas
Viserion (DotE)
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x Favors From the Crown (TBWB)
1x Fortified Position (Core)
1x Heads on Spikes (Core)
1x Late Summer Feast (AMAF)
1x Time of Plenty (LoCR)
1x Valar Dohaeris (TAK)
1x Winter Festival (CtA)
Characters (29):
3x Begging Brother (OR)
1x Black Walder (GtR)
1x Daenerys Targaryen (TFM)
1x Dothraki Handmaiden (DotE)
3x Dothraki Honor Guard (WotW)
2x Freedmen (TBWB)
1x Ghiscari Elite (AMAF)
1x Hot Pie (FFH)
1x Irri (OR)
1x Khal Drogo (Core)
3x Second Sons (GtR)
1x Ser Barristan Selmy (LoCR)
1x Sparrows (TB)
1x Stormcrows (JtO)
1x Strong Belwas (TRW)
3x Targaryen Loyalist (Core)
3x Unsullied (Core)
1x Viserion (DotE)
Attachments (1):
1x Crown of Gold (TRtW)
Locations (22):
1x Astapor (TFoA)
3x Flea Bottom (OR)
3x Illyrio’s Estate (Core)
1x Meereenese Market (MoD)
1x Plaza of Pride (WotW)
1x Plaza of Punishment (Core)
1x Qarth (SoD)
1x Slaver’s Bay Port (AMAF)
3x The Iron Bank (TAK)
1x The Iron Throne (Core)
3x The Roseroad (Core)
1x The Starry Sept (KotI)
2x Yunkai (FotOG)
Events (8):
1x Shadow of the East (CoS)
2x Superior Claim (Core)
1x Support of the People (TtB)
2x Unbridled Generosity (TBWB)
2x Waking the Dragon (Core)
Clearly not feeling challenged enough by the Exodia concept, Slade opted for a bestow subtheme. Among his Prince targets we see a Dany who reacts to Targ events when we only have 3 in the deck and Irri who can stand only two characters in the entire deck. We also have an unopposed subtheme with big Viserion (1x, of course) and Yunkai, a Black Walder, and a Hot Pie. Really it’s a testament to Slade’s skill with the faction that he’s this high up. The Princes he won and lost with certainly suggest he was operating on some weird, deep jank energy. Even there, however, the power of the Prince was not necessarily conventional – Slade notes that in the round five win, “the best contribution that Prince Strong Belwas made was being discarded every turn with Plaza of Pride to stand a decent character”.
Round One – Khal Drogo – Loss
Round Two – Barristan – Loss
Round Three – Irri – Win
Round Four – Daenerys – Loss
Round Five – Belwas – Win
Final Position: 20th (2-3)
Dave Bamford
Faction: Tyrell
Princes:
Alerie Tyrell
Margaery Tyrell (HoT)
Ser Garlan Tyrell (HoT)
Ser Hyle Hunt
Ser Mark Mullendore
The Queen of Thorns (TMoW)
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x Duel (TFoA)
1x Marched to the Wall (Core)
1x Peace and Prosperity (SoD)
1x Pulling the Strings (CoW)
1x Ravages of War (DitD)
1x Reinforcements (Core)
1x The First Snow of Winter (NMG)
Characters (31):
1x Alerie Tyrell (LoCR)
3x Hedge Knight (TKP)
3x Highgarden Honor Guard (HoT)
3x House Florent Knight (WotN)
3x Jousting Knight (HoT)
1x Margaery Tyrell (HoT)
2x Olenna’s Informant (Core)
2x Roseroad Patrol (CoW)
3x Scheming Septon (TSC)
1x Ser Garlan Tyrell (HoT)
1x Ser Hyle Hunt (Km)
1x Ser Mark Mullendore (MoD)
3x Shrewd Diplomat (DitD)
1x The Queen of Thorns (TMoW)
3x Wardens of the Reach (Core)
Attachments (4):
2x A Pinch of Powder (IDP)
2x Milk of the Poppy (Core)
Locations (27):
3x Arbor Marketplace (DitD)
1x Caswell’s Keep (TIMC)
2x Fields of the Reach (FotS)
1x Highgarden (Core)
3x Jousting Pavilion (HoT)
2x Oldtown (JtO)
3x Redwyne Straits (HoT)
1x Renly’s Pavilion (TC)
3x Rose Garden (Core)
3x The Arbor (NMG)
3x The Hightower (HoT)
2x The Iron Throne (LMHR)
Bamford’s deck wasn’t entirely his own. Instead, he took a deck some gobshite provided for him, which already only had exactly 5 uniques each at 1x, added a cheeky Garlan, changed the agenda from Fealty to Prince and went to the races. As it turns out, lacking the extra gold each round from the agenda is quite a big deal, although Garlan slotted in rather nicely (despite the “ballache” that was having him with Duel). That said, the deck did not necessarily jive with Bamford, who regretfully observed that “[he wishes he’d] forgotten [his] deck on Sunday as well as Saturday”.
Round One – Margaery – Loss
Round Two – Alerie – Loss
Round Three – Queen of Thorns – Loss (to another Exodia)
Round Four – Garlan – Win
Round Five – Alerie – Win
Final Position: 19th (2-3)
Josh Chambers
Faction: Baratheon
Princes:
Alester Florent
Delena Florent
Edric Storm
Selyse Baratheon (Core)
Ser Axell Florent
Ser Imry Florent
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x At the Palace of Sorrows (DotE)
1x Barring the Gates (AMAF)
1x Duel (TFoA)
2x Forced March (SoD)
1x Valar Dohaeris (TAK)
1x Varys’s Riddle (AtSK)
Characters (36):
1x Alester Florent (FotS)
1x Anguy the Archer (FotS)
3x Bastard in Hiding (Core)
1x Delena Florent (DotE)
3x Dragonstone Convert (DotE)
3x Dragonstone Faithful (Core)
1x Edric Storm (LoCR)
3x Fiery Followers (Core)
2x R’hllor Infiltrator (AtG)
3x Red Priest (FotS)
3x Royal Entourage (TRtW)
1x Selyse Baratheon (Core)
1x Ser Axell Florent (TRW)
1x Ser Imry Florent (FotS)
3x Shadow Priestess (TSC)
3x Vanguard Lancer (Core)
3x Varys (Core)
Attachments (3):
3x Hunting Accident (FotS)
Locations (19):
1x Dragonstone Castle (FotOG)
3x Dragonstone Port (Core)
1x Isle of Ravens (TIMC)
3x King’s Gate (AtG)
3x Spears of the Merling King (TFoA)
1x Stormlands Fiefdom (TSC)
3x The Red Keep (Core)
3x The Roseroad (Core)
1x The Stone Drum (CtA)
Events (3):
1x In the Name of Your King! (TRtW)
2x Saving the Kingdom (TRW)
Chambers had a Florent theme, with 5 of his 6 Princes having the “House Florent” trait and the one exception, Edric Storm, being a bastard born to Delena. Chambers also had a subtheme for each Prince option: Delena has the Bastards; Edric has the Saving the Kingdoms; Selyse has much of the character base, particularly the Royal Entourages; Axell has the Forced Marches to help go first and kneel out what was wanted; Alester has almost all the characters; and Imry has all the locations. His deck was slightly hamstrung by not realising rule three[8] – the 3x Varys were there as placeholders for the uniques who were incorrectly included.
When asked for comment, Chambers was characteristically impish – “Pay 2 for a House Florent knight, reaction: trigger the House Florent knight.”
Round One – Imry – Win
Round Two – Edric – Win
Round Three – Delena – Loss
Round Four – Axell – Loss
Round Five – Axell – Win
Final Position: 14th (3-2)
Keb Frith
Faction: Tyrell #2[9]
Princes:
King Renly’s Host
Mace Tyrell (SAT)
Margaery Tyrell (HoT)
Randyll Tarly
Ser Mark Mullendore
The Queen of Thorns (Core)
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x Calm Over Westeros (Core)
2x Exchange of Information (TSC)
1x Return to the Fields (KotI)
1x Time of Plenty (LoCR)
1x Trade Routes (HoT)
1x Wardens of the South (HoT)
Characters (30):
3x Arbor Knight (TtB)
3x Garden Caretaker (Core)
3x Highgarden Honor Guard (HoT)
3x Highgarden Refugee (TFM)
3x Hightower Spy (FotOG)
1x King Renly’s Host (TIMC)
1x Littlefinger (Core)
1x Mace Tyrell (SAT)
1x Margaery Tyrell (HoT)
1x Randyll Tarly (Core)
2x Roseroad Patrol (CoW)
3x Scheming Septon (TSC)
1x Ser Mark Mullendore (MoD)
1x The Queen of Thorns (Core)
3x Wardens of the Reach (Core)
Attachments (2):
2x A Pinch of Powder (IDP)
Locations (20):
3x Arbor Vineyard (TRW)
1x Caswell’s Keep (TIMC)
2x Fields of the Reach (FotS)
1x Gate of the Gods (AtG)
1x Highgarden (Core)
1x Horn Hill (TBWB)
3x Oldtown (JtO)
3x Redwyne Straits (HoT)
3x Rose Garden (Core)
1x The Honeywine (WotW)
1x The Mander (Core)
Events (8):
3x “Lord Renly’s Ride” (GtR)
3x Growing Strong (Core)
2x Support of the People (TtB)
Frith’s effort has a combination of deck manipulation, Summer, STR Pumps and The Reach. Despite these disparate themes, the result was fairly effective. “I never fully appreciated how awesome Oldtown is,” Frith mused. “It’s like half a Wall and half a Red Keep”. The deck was still undeniably hamstrung by the agenda – for example, in one game Randyll couldn’t gain Frith power, but was then stolen by his opponent who perversely could then take the power – but it didn’t dampen Frith’s spirits. “I’d actually like to consider using a real Prince deck out of Tyrell to actually make the most of some of those tasty locations.” Bon appetit.
Round One – Mark – Win
Round Two – Margaery – Loss
Round Three – Randyll – Win
Round Four – Queen of Thorns – Loss (to another Exodia deck)
Round Five – Randyll – Win
Final Position: 12th (3-2)
Rowan Gavin
Faction: Targaryen
Princes:
Aggo
Cohollo
Haggo
Jhogo (TS)
Qotho
Rakharo (DotE)
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x Fury of the Khalasar (DotE)
1x Heads on Spikes (Core)
1x Return to the Fields (KotI)
1x The King in the North (FotOG)
1x Valar Morghulis (TIMC)
1x Vanquish the Unbelievers (KotI)
1x You Win Or You Die (SAT)
Characters (31):
1x Aggo (WotN)
3x Braided Warrior (Core)
1x Cohollo (KotI)
3x Crone of Vaes Dothrak (TKP)
3x Devoted Bloodrider (FFH)
2x Dothraki Honor Guard (WotW)
1x Dothraki Outriders (NMG)
1x Faceless Man (HoT)
2x Freedmen (TBWB)
1x Haggo (FotS)
1x Hired Assassin (SoKL)
3x Horselord (DotE)
1x Jhogo (TS)
1x Qotho (HoT)
3x Raiding Khalasar (SAT)
1x Rakharo (DotE)
3x Second Sons (GtR)
Attachments (6):
2x Beggar King (CtA)
1x Bloody Arakh (TAK)
1x Crown of Gold (TRtW)
1x Dothraki Steed (FotS)
1x Dragon Skull (BtRK)
Locations (17):
1x Dothraki Sea (Core)
2x Flea Bottom (OR)
3x Illyrio’s Estate (Core)
2x Meereenese Market (MoD)
1x Plaza of Pride (WotW)
2x Slaver’s Bay Port (AMAF)
3x The Kingsroad (Core)
3x Womb of the World (DotE)
Events (7):
2x Blood of My Blood (FFH)
2x Gifts for the Widow (DitD)
3x Overwhelming Numbers (DotE)
When he first got Targaryen, Gavin’s thought process was mixed, until he noticed something – there were exactly 6 different bloodriders. Time to take ethos of the Worlds-winning deck, take out the neutral events and other uniques, and get going with the Bloodrider synergy. After all, as Gavin puts it, “Draw Khalasar = Win”. As one of the two Exodias to make the cut, it’s tough to disagree with him.
Round One – Aggo – Win
Round Two – Jhogo – Win
Round Three – Qotho – Loss
Round Four – Rakharo – Win
Round Five – Aggo – Loss
Top 8 – Qotho – Loss (to another Exodia)
Final Position: 8th
James Waumsley
Faction: Night’s Watch, The
Princes:
Bowen Marsh
Clydas
Owen the Oaf
Samwell Tarly (Core)
Small Paul
Three-Finger Hobb
Deck:
Plots (7):
1x A Game of Thrones (Core)
1x At the Gates (AtG)
2x Heads on Spikes (Core)
1x Siege Preparations (FotS)
1x Trade Routes (HoT)
1x Valar Morghulis (TIMC)
Characters (31):
1x Bowen Marsh (WotW)
3x Builder at the Wall (WotW)
1x Clydas (DotE)
3x Cunning Steward (TMoW)
1x Defender of the Wall (OR)
2x Forest Patrol (BtRK)
2x Grizzled Miner (WotW)
2x Messenger Raven (Core)
1x Owen the Oaf (CoS)
3x Protectors of the Realm (FotS)
2x Ranging Party (Core)
1x Samwell Tarly (Core)
1x Shadow Tower Mason (TIMC)
1x Small Paul (HoT)
3x Steward at the Wall (Core)
1x Three-Finger Hobb (IDP)
3x Veteran Builder (Core)
Attachments (5):
2x Cage of Ravens (DotE)
3x Craven (CtA)
Locations (15):
1x Blackbird (BtRK)
1x Eastwatch-by-the-Sea (AMAF)
2x Flea Bottom Alley (AtG)
1x Gates of the Moon (JtO)
1x Northern Rookery (CoW)
3x The Roseroad (Core)
3x The Wall (Core)
3x Underground Vault (TFoA)
Events (9):
3x “Off To Gulltown” (SoD)
2x “The Rat Cook” (TAK)
1x Lay Waste (DotE)
3x The Watch Has Need (TtB)
Waumsley[10] opts for a mixture of the efficient and the inefficient, the sublime and the ridiculous. “There’s something delightful about having 4 intrigue monocons as choices in a deck all about winning a power by five,” he confessed, a smile playing upon his face. “And with Protectors of the Realm and the Builders, power challenges weren’t too tricky to win – especially with Gulltown for Owen.” Those Protectors get beefy quickly, with 5 separate reserve-boosting cards in the deck, including two of the Princes (although not the Iron Throne, as “that would’ve been cheating”). Hiding behind these outlandish touches is a classic Wall defence deck, built around stalling opponents, drawing cards and grabbing power. It got Waumsley one game away from ultimate glory, before Wedge saw fit to end the nonsense en route to their first ever victory on the Sunday of a Weekender.
Round One – Clydas – Win
Round Two – Hobb – Win
Round Three – Clydas – Loss
Round Four – Samwell – Win
Round Five – Owen the Oaf – Win
Top 8 – Owen the Oaf – Win
Top 4 – Small Paul – Loss
Final Position: 3rd
Overall, as a concept, we went 23-24 across 47 games. Either a sign that we’re not bad, or a sign that the 21 attendees who played proper decks need to step up their games.[11]
https://thejoustingpavilion.com/tournaments/7423
Lastly, I leave you with a definitive ranking of Princes from Best to Worst, based on a definitely-not-at-all-questionable sample size:
2-0:
Randyll Tarly
Owen the Oaf
1-0:
Areo Hotah (SoD)
Dacey Mormont
Daenerys Targaryen (DotE)
Edric Storm
Irri
Jhogo (TS)
Maege Mormont
Rakharo (DotE)
Samwell Tarly (Core)
Ser Garlan Tyrell (HoT)
Ser Imry Florent
Ser Mark Mullendore
Strong Belwas
Three-Finger Hobb
1-1:
Aggo
Alerie Tyrell
Clydas
Ser Archibald Yronwood
Ser Axell Florent
0-0:
All characters not listed in another category
0-1:
Alysane Mormont
Captain Groleo
Daenerys Targaryen (TFM)
Delena Florent
Hizdahr zo Loraq
Khal Drogo (Core)
Mirri Maz Duur
Pyat Pree
Ser Barristan Selmy (LoCR)
Small Paul
The Queen of Thorns (Core)
The Queen of Thorns (TMoW)
0-2:
Darkstar (SoD)
King Robb’s Host
Margaery Tyrell (HoT)
Qotho
Footnotes
[1]You don’t regret it, but you feel like you probably should.
[2]We know in Yu-Gi-Oh Exodia is 5 components, not 6. This is wholly irrelevant information and shouldn’t be brought up.
[3]One participant, Matt “Matthew Slarday” Slade, did not randomise his faction as he is a Targaryen loyalist and will happily participate in janky nonsense but only if he gets to still be Targaryen.
[4]In his underpants, vomiting. He wasn’t literally vomiting into them, that would’ve been weird.
[5]Also this didn’t actually happen. He deffo vomited but without witnesses. But let’s just say it did. Also, blame Mach for the footnotes.[12]
[6]We had 10 people operate under random draw, resulting in 2 factions, Targaryen and Tyrell, having 2 people playing them.
[7]See point [3].
[8]The “no other in-faction uniques” bit, not “but sacrifices are a-okay”.[13]
[9]See point [6].
[10]Yes Waumsley is writing about himself in the third person, it would’ve looked weird to switch and he’s much more a fan of self-indulgence.
[11]It is difficult to overstate the degree to which it is the latter of these two options.
[12]https://www.jackmach.in/stoke-regional-top-8-tournament-report-exodia-the-forbidden-one/
[13]HANDS ON THE TABLE
